Wearing a luxury watch is a statement piece that will gain the attention of people around you. Purchasing a luxury watch is not just for an accessory to go with your outfit. They are an investment in your image and lifestyle that takes time and consideration. Once you begin researching brands and their characteristics, you will realize that not all watches are created equal. It is good to know what to look for in a high-quality luxury watch before shelling out thousands of dollars, especially if presented with a counterfeit. Here are the aspects to consider when looking for a new luxury watch:

Materials: 

Watchmakers make luxury watches from the finest materials. At a minimum, you will find a luxury watch made from stainless steel. Luxury brands prefer stainless steel for its resistance to sweat and moisture over regular steel. You will also see solid stainless steel rather than hollow, specifically for the bracelet. Some manufacturers adopted titanium because it is twice as strong as steel and half the weight, although it costs more. Some luxury watches include precious metals such as gold and platinum. They may even have diamonds and gemstones embedded in them. In modern luxury watches, the transparent cover of the face, known as the crystal, will be made from synthetic sapphire over glass or plastic because synthetic sapphire provides more scratch and crack resistance than glass.

Movement:

The movement is the type of mechanism that powers the watch. There are two types of watch movement: quartz and mechanical, and each has its characteristics. Quartz is the most common and identified by its tick from second to second and makes use of a battery as its primary power source. The mechanical movement has a sweeping motion that utilizes energy stored from a wound spring. Mechanical watches require more maintenance than quartz watches and must be wound regularly. Mechanical watches have a subtype that is automatic. An automatic movement is a smooth, uninterrupted movement around the watch face that uses a rotor that winds the watch automatically with each movement from the wrist. If the owner doesn’t wear the watch for some time, the power reserve in the watch will dwindle and stop running. Luxury watchmakers opt for mechanical movements for construction and tradition.

History:

The names and heritage of the manufacturers define a luxury watch beyond the materials used in its construction. The best watchmakers spent decades, some even centuries perfecting their craft and have contributed numerous innovations to the watchmaking industry. The most well-known country for watchmaking has to be Switzerland. Many of the luxury brands we see today are based and originated from there, such as Rolex and Patek Philippe. Over the years, other countries have entered and left their mark in the watchmaking industry, notably Japan and Germany, with Citizen and A. Lange & Shöne, respectively.

Chronometer Rating: 

Swiss luxury watches sometimes have “Chronometer Certife” or a similar phrase on the dial. That means the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute independently tested and rated the timepiece. The watches are tested and monitored for their accuracy in different environments, temperatures, and conditions over some time to determine quality and durability. COSC certification usually applies to Swiss-made watches. However, luxury watches from Japan and Germany have their respective testing principles that sometimes surpass Swiss standards.

The bottom line, before you purchase a luxury watch, be sure to do your research. At Precious Metals Refinery, we evaluate and buy pre-owned luxury watches and pay up to 40% more than our competitors. We also have experts that do watch repairs. If you have a luxury watch that you’re looking to sell or to trade up one of the timepieces in your collection, schedule an appointment or stop by any of our locations today.